Jules Renard, a French author, said, "The only man who is really free is the one who can turn down an invitation to dinner without giving any excuse."

This week we are studying responder's rebids. Look at the auction and South's hand. Can North have four hearts for his sequence? What should South rebid?

North cannot have four hearts; if he did, he would have rebid two hearts (the major), not two diamonds (the minor). So, as there cannot be a 4-4 heart fit, South should rebid two no-trump. This is game-invitational, indicating some 10-12 points and at least one stopper in the unbid suit, hearts. (If you use two-over-one game-forcing, you would respond one no-trump forcing, then rebid two no-trump over two diamonds.)

After North raises to three no-trump, West leads the spade king. How should South plan the play?

What a dirty trick by West, leading a spade instead of a heart! South has six top tricks: one spade, four hearts and one diamond. If the diamond finesse is working, there will be no problems. But if it loses, declarer will need a club trick.

South should duck the first trick and take the second spade, to find out the break. Then he should overtake one of dummy's heart honors as cheaply as possible and run the diamond jack. East wins with his king and shifts to a low club. What should declarer do?

If West has the club ace, the contract has no chance. So South should put up his king, hoping for the best. If it wins, he can claim.

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